Michigan beats Ohio State 42-27, ends 8-game skid in rivalry

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Hassan Haskins scored five touchdowns and Aidan Hutchinson had three sacks, helping No. 6 Michigan finally beat No. 2 Ohio State 4227 Saturday to give Jim Harbaugh his first win as a coach against the Buckeyes.

“It feels like the best one,” Harbaugh said.

The Wo l v e r i n e s clinched the Big Ten East and will play in the conference title game next week with playoff hopes in hand after snapping an eightgame losing streak to Ohio State.

Michigan (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP) advanced to the conference championship for the first time. The Wolverines now have a chance to win a Big Ten title for the first time since 2004 and a national championship for the first time since 1997.

Minutes after the game, long-suffering fans filled the Big House turf to celebrate a rare win in the storied series and they were in no rush to leave as music blared.

“Watching the snow fall and the crowd rush rush onto the field was truly a surreal moment,” Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara said.

Ohio State had a school- record winning streak in the rivalry, taking 15 of 16 to turn The Game into its game.

The Buckeyes ( 10- 2, 8-1) blew their chances to continue their dominance with 10 penalties, many before the snap, and because they simply could not stop Michigan’s running game.

“We haven’t been in this position in forever, so it’s tough,” Ohio State receiver Chris Olave said.

Harbaugh clearly had his team ready to beat the Buckeyes.

After Harbaugh’s pay was slashed in his new deal last winter in part because of his lack of success against the Buckeyes, he reshaped his coaching staff again and renamed a running-heavy period of practice the “Beat Ohio,” drill for to add another layer of focus on the rivalry.

It seemed to work. Haskins had 169 yards rushing on 28 carries, scoring a go-ahead touchdown late in the second half and four more after halftime to pad Michigan’s lead.